Railay Beach

We made our way from Koh Samui to Surat Thani on the mainland and from there via bus to Krabi town.  At Krabi we  caught a tuk tuk to a place where we waded out to a long tail boat to take us to Railay.  Carrying our bags is making us stronger but also we are sure that we will be  lighter and more mobile next time we do something like this.

Railay has no roads and is a rock climbers dream with huge limestone cliffs and sea stacks all around and clear turquoise water.  Great place with no motor cycles, cars or motorized traffic.  We got used to waking to the sounds of monkeys hooting in the jungle around us.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railay_Beach

We rented sea kayaks on Railay to paddle around all the huge limestone sea stacks.  Stopping to swim when we wanted. The water is crystal clear and warm.  We found a small cave with a sand floor to stash the kayak while we swam.  The photo of the people wading under the cliffs is where we swam -- an opening between two big sea stacks.  We spent about 6 or 7 hours out in the hot sun and it wore me out.  Next day was a rest day for me.  We did stop for lunch at a fancy resort with tables tucked in a semi cave under the cliffs.  Really beautiful dining room there.

At one of the cliffs we saw a big snake come off the rocks and start swimming out into the bay.  That made us pay more attention to what was around us leading to a sea turtle sighting. 

Darryl & Susan

Two views from our breakfast table at the hotel. 

Trip and Thailand Update

We are on the beach at Ko Tao Resort on Koh Tao in Thailand.  Went swimming in the ocean this morning and just back from sandwich and fresh fruit smoothie down the road.  Staying in out of the hot hot mid day sun.  Reading and watching TV.  We plan to go swim again this evening then walk down the beach to eat later.  Plan to fit in a massage soon.  

Below are some photos.
First is the beautiful Reclining Buddah in Bangkok.
An elephant in Nepal at Chitwan.  He is reaching out to me for a tip that he would pass up to the guy on his back.  Elephants standing over you wanting money are quite effective in having their way!  
Buddhist students at a monastery in Nepal during a ceremony in a temple.  
Next are some photos from the time We spent  touring the ruins at Ayutthaya, the capital of ancient Siam.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayutthaya_Kingdom  the photos of the old Buddha and the Buddah head in the tree roots.  

Next are photos of the resort we are in right now. Below is one of two pools but the ocean is the best. The overnight train to get down here was not so good.  This is the first of four islands we will be spending time on between now and Dec 2nd when we go back into India.   

Then one of our favorite places was the floating resort on the River Kwai in the jungle without electricity.  At night - Just the sound of the river current and the jungle around us. 
http://www.riverkwaijunglerafts.com/

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